FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact:

Laura Mancuso

Random House Children’s Books

510-285-2951 | lmancuso@randomhouse.com

RANDOM HOUSE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

CELEBRATE PICTURE BOOK COLLABORATION

WITH A HOME BUILD IN NEWBURGH, N.Y., ON JUNE 7TH

The Carpenter’s Giftavailable nationwide September 27, 2011,

from Random House Books for Young Readers

NEW YORK CITY(May 31, 2011) – A young boy’s wish to live in a decent home and how that wish comes true one Christmas is the subject of a tale set for nationwide release September 27, 2011, from Random House Books for Young Readers. Set in Depression-era New York, THE CARPENTER’S GIFT:A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree is a beautiful and inspiring 48-page picture book written by David Rubel in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, with illustrations by Jim LaMarche (Rainbabies; Albert).

Each year Tishman Speyer, the owner and operator of Rockefeller Center®, donates lumber from the tree to Habitat for Humanity.  Since 2007, Habitat has used the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lumber to help build homes in Pascagoula, Mississippi; New York City; and Stamford, Connecticut. The lumber from the 2010 tree will be used to build a home in upstate New York by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh. In honor of the publication of THE CARPENTER’S GIFT, staff from Random House Children’s Books also will be helping to build a home in Newburgh, along with members of the media. (See contact details below.)

It’s 1931 and eight-year-old Henry and his father are selling Christmas trees in New York City. After they donate one of their trees to workers building Rockefeller Center, it is erected in the plaza and adorned with homemade decorations. Amazed by the tree, Henry wishes on it for a decent home, a wish that comes true when the workers build a new house in which he and his family can live. To commemorate the act, Henry plants a pinecone and, years later, repays the kindness of the construction workers by donating the tree that grew from it to serve as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. After the holiday season, the tree is milled into lumber and used to help build a home for another family in need.

“The Rockefeller Center Tree has come to be a universal holiday icon,” says Kate Klimo, Vice President and Publisher of the Random House/Golden Books Young Readers Group. “The story behind it serves to enrich the tree’s significance even as it extols the spiritual power of giving and lending a hand to those in need.”

“We are excited about this touching story of a family in need of a decent home and those who come together to make that home a reality,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “This story was inspired by Tishman Speyer’s annual donation of lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to help build Habitat homes and by the caring communities who reach out to help their neighbors every day.”

Random House Children’s Booksis the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, and ebooks, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (RandomHouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games, and educational resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

Habitat for Humanity Internationalis an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired, or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent, and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

Tishman Speyeris the co-owner and manager of Rockefeller Center, the world-famous real estate, shopping and dining complex in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Rockefeller Center is the site of numerous public exhibits and events, including large-scale installations of public art by world-renowned artists including Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons and Jonathan Borofsky. Tishman Speyer has earned a worldwide reputation for innovative utilization of public art in its signature commercial properties, which include Rockefeller Center and Chrysler Center. Tishman Speyer is committed to the preservation and restoration of Rockefeller Center and the historic Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center, one of New York’s top attractions. Each day an estimated 350,000 people visit the Rockefeller Plaza complex, which during the holidays is home to the most famous Christmas Tree in the world.

Celebrate with us and join the build!

*Media invited to attend; photo and interview opportunities available

Contact Laura Mancuso at lmancuso@randomhouse.com | 510-285-2951 for more information.

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